
2 Contents
Instrument cluster  ........................... 98
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ............... 102
Trip and main odometer
and sub menu  ............................ 106
Audio systems  ................................ 108
Radio  ............................................ 108
CD player  ..................................... 109
Cassette player  ............................110
Telephone  .........................................111
Navigation system ...........................116
Trip computer  ..................................117
Malfunction/warning 
message memory  .......................119
Individual settings ......................... 121
Setting the audio volume .............. 136
Coolant temperature gauge  .......... 137
Flexible service system 
(FSS) ............................................ 138
Engine oil level indicator .............. 141
Engine oil consumption  ................ 142
Exterior lamp switch  ..................... 143
Headlamp mode  ............................. 144Night security illumination  ......... 146
Locator lighting .......................... 147
Headlamp cleaning system  .......... 147
Combination switch  ...................... 148
Hazard warning flasher 
switch  .......................................... 151
Climate control  ...............................152
Automatic climate control .............160
Front center console storage 
compartment ventilation  .......... 171
Rear passenger compartment 
adjustable air outlets  ............... 172
Operation Audio and telephone  .. 173
Operating safety  ............................ 173
Operating and display elements  .. 174
Button and soft key operation  ...... 176
Operation  ......................................... 176
Switching on and off  ...................... 176
Adjusting the volume  ................... 177
Audio functions  ............................. 177
Bass  ................................................. 177
Treble  .............................................. 177
Balance ............................................ 178
Centering all audio functions ...... 178Audio system 
tone level selection  ................... 179
Radio mode  ..................................... 179
Selecting radio mode ..................... 179
Selecting the band  ......................... 179
Manual tuning ................................ 180
Seek tuning ..................................... 180
Scan tuning ..................................... 180
Weather Band  ................................. 181
Station memory .............................. 181
Storing stations automatically 
(Autostore)  ................................. 181
Storing stations  .............................. 182
Retrieving a station 
from memory  ............................. 182
Direct frequency input
AM and FM only  ....................... 182
Cassette mode  ................................ 182
Playing cassettes ............................ 182
Cassette eject .................................. 183
Track selection  ............................... 184
Track search
forwards/backwards ................. 184
Fast forward/reverse  ..................... 184
OM_203.book  Seite 2  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

9 IntroductionImportant notice for California retail buyers of Mercedes-Benz automobiles
Under California law you may be entitled to a replacement of your vehicle or a refund of the purchase price or lease 
price, if Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC and / or its authorized repair or service facilities fail to fix one ore more substantial 
defects or malfunctions in the vehicle that are covered by its express warranty after a reasonable number of repair 
attempts. During the period of 18 months from original delivery of the vehicle or the accumulation of 18 000 miles on 
the odometer of the vehicle, whichever occurs first, a reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed for a retail 
buyer or lessee if one or more of the following occurs: (1) the same substantial defect or malfunction results in a 
condition that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury if the vehicle is driven, that defect or malfunction has 
been subject to repair two or more times, and you have directly notified Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC in writing of the 
need for its repair and have given us a direct opportunity to perform a repair ourselves, (2) the same substantial defect 
or malfunction of a less serious nature than category (1) has been subject to repair four or more times and you have 
directly notified us of the need for its repair and given us the opportunity to repair ourselves, or  (3) the vehicle is out 
of service by reason of repair of the same or different substantial defects or malfunctions for a cumulative total of 
more than 30 calender days. Written notification should be sent to us, not a dealer, at Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, 
Customer Assistance Center, One Mercedes Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645-0350.
Maintenance
The Service Booklet describes all the necessary maintenance work which should be performed at regular intervals.
Always have the Service Booklet with you when you take the vehicle to your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for 
service. The service advisor will record each service in the booklet for you.
OM_203.book  Seite 9  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

26 Contents - Operation
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
OperationVehicle keys  ...................................... 28
Start lock-out  .................................... 30
General notes on the 
central locking system  ............... 30
Central locking system  ................... 31
Radio frequency and 
infrared remote control  ............... 31
Locking and unlocking ................ 33
Choosing global or selective 
mode on remote control  .............. 33
Opening the trunk  ....................... 34
Opening and closing windows 
and sliding / pop-up roof 
from outside  .................................. 35
Panic button  .................................. 36
Mechanical keys  ........................... 36
Doors .................................................. 37
Central locking switch  .................... 39
Automatic central locking  .............. 40
Emergency unlocking 
in case of accident  ...................... 40
Trunk  ................................................. 41Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 43
Trunk lid emergency release  ........ 44
Trunk lid release switch  ................ 45
Trunk lamp ....................................... 45
Antitheft alarm system ................... 46
Tow-away alarm  ............................... 47
Easy-entry/exit feature  .................. 48
Front seat adjustment ..................... 49
Removal and installation of 
front seat head restraints  .......... 55
Multicontour seat  ............................ 57
Heated seats  ..................................... 58
Rear seat head restraints  ............... 60
Seat belts and integrated 
restraint system  .......................... 63
Seat belts  .......................................... 63
Seat belt nonusage 
warning system  .......................... 64
BabySmart
TM airbag 
deactivation system  ................... 70
Supplemental Restraint 
System (SRS)  ................................ 71
Emergency tensioning 
retractor (ETR)  ............................ 72Airbags  .............................................. 73
Safety guidelines for the seat 
belt, emergency tensioning 
retractor and airbag .................... 81
Infant and child 
restraint systems ......................... 83
Steering wheel adjustment 
(manual)  ....................................... 88
Steering wheel adjustment 
(electrical)  .................................... 89
Rear view mirrors  ............................ 90
Instrument cluster  ........................... 98
Multifunction steering wheel, 
multifunction display  ............... 102
Trip and main odometer
and sub menu  ............................ 106
Audio systems  ................................ 108
Radio  ............................................ 108
CD player  ..................................... 109
Cassette player  ............................110
Telephone  ......................................... 111
Navigation system ...........................116
Trip computer  ..................................117
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99 Instrument cluster
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Knob for instrument cluster illumination, 
seepage100
Reset knob for trip odometer, see page 101 and 
individual settings, see page 121
2Tachometer
3Antilock brake system (ABS) malfunction indicator 
lamp, see page 291
4Brake fluid low or parking brake engaged, 
seepage298
5Speedometer
6Left turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch on page 148
7Electronic stability program (ESP) warning lamp, 
system is adjusting to road conditions, see page 292
8Indicator lamp without function. It illuminates with 
the electronic key in starter switch position 2. It 
should go out when the engine is running.
9CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator lamp, 
seepage286
10High beam headlamp indicator, 
seeexterior lamp switch, page143, and 
combination switch, see page 14811Indicator lamp without function. It illuminates with 
the electronic key in starter switch position 2. It 
should go out when the engine is running.
12Multifunction display, see page 102.
Malfunction and warning messages in the 
multifunction display, see page 293
13Trip odometer, see page 101 and 106
14Main odometer, see page 106
15Display for program mode and gear range 
indicators, see page 254
16Malfunction/warning message memory, 
seepage119
17Outside temperature indicator, see page 101
18Digital clock, see individual settings on page 121
19Right turn signal indicator lamp, see combination 
switch on page 148
20Fasten seat belts, see page 292
21Supplemental restraint system (SRS) malfunction 
indicator lamp, see page 289
22Fuel gauge with reserve and fuel cap placement 
warning lamp, see page 290
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101 Instrument cluster
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Outside temperature indicator (17)
The temperature sensor is located in the front bumper 
area. Due to its location, the sensor can be affected by 
road or engine heat during idling or slow driving. This 
means that the accuracy of the displayed temperature 
can only be verified by comparison to a thermometer 
placed next to the sensor, not by comparison to external 
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
Adaption to ambient temperature takes place in steps 
and depends on the prevailing driving conditions (stop-
and-go or moderate, constant driving) and amount of 
temperature change.
Note:
The uni t for  the  temp erature in di cator  d is play  can  b e set 
in the individual setting menu “INSTRUMENT 
CLUSTER” – “TEMP. INDICATOR” on page 121.Trip odometer (13)
To reset to “0” miles / km:
Activate the instrument cluster if it is not already 
activated, see page 100.
Press button è or ÿ on the multifunction 
steering wheel repeatedly until the trip odometer 
appears if it is not displayed. See page 106.
Press button (1) on the instrument cluster, see page 100.
Tachometer (2)
The red marking on the tachometer denotes excessive 
engine speed.
Avoid this engine speed, as it may result in serious 
engine damage that is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty. 
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply is interrupted 
if the engine is operated within the red marking.
Wa r n i n g !
The outside temperature indicator is not designed 
to serve as an Ice-Warning Device and is therefore 
unsuitable for that purpose. Indicated 
temperatures just above the freezing point do not 
guarantee that the road surface is free of ice.
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103 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Depending on your vehicle’s equipment, you may use 
the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel to call 
up, control and set the following systems in the 
multifunction display:
1Trip odometer and main odometer, see page 101 and 
page 106
Flexible service system (FSS), see page 138
Vehicle speed, see page 106
Coolant temperature gauge, see page 137
Engine oil level indicator, see page 141
2Audio systems, see page 108
Radio, see page 108
CD player, see page 109
Cassette player, see page 1103Navigation system, see page 116
4Malfunction message memory, see page 119
5Individual settings, see page 121
6Trip computer, see page 117
After start
After reset
Fuel tank content
7Telephone, see page 111
Press the è or ÿ button repeatedly until the 
required system is displayed.
The display advances by one system each time the 
button is pressed.
You may call up additional displays within some of these 
categories by pressing the j or k button.
OM_203.book  Seite 103  Donnerstag, 31. Mai 2001  11:57 11 

106 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Trip and main odometer and sub menu
P 54.30-4453-29
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107 Multifunction steering wheel, multifunction display
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Trip odometer and main odometer
See page 101 for instructions on resetting the trip 
odometer.
2Coolant temperature gauge, see page 137
3Vehicle speed if “SPEED DISP.” is selected in the 
individual setting menu “INSTRUMENT 
CLUSTER” – “SELECT DISPLAY”, refer to page 124
Outside temperature if “OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE” 
is selected in the individual setting menu 
“INSTRUMENT CLUSTER” – “SELECT DISPLAY”, 
see page 124
4FSS (Flexible service system), see page 138
5Engine oil level indicator, see page 141Press è or ÿ button repeatedly until the trip 
odometer and main odometer display (1) appears.
Press the j or k button repeatedly until the 
required display (2, 3, 4, 5, 1) appears.
Pressing the è or ÿ button displays the next or 
previous system.
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